Vulcanizing apparatus.



J. T. CROWLEY. VUIJGANIZING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR.1'7, 1913.

1,122,695. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

INVENTOR 'WITNESSES; j 1

1 a @141, flaw/nu By Atfm'm' s,

V XWQAW 6 JOHN T.- CROWLEY, 0F BEACON FALLS,

CONNECTICUT,ASSIGNOR TO THE BEACON FALLS RUBBER SHOE COMPANY, OF BEACON FAILS, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATIONCF CONNECTICUT.

certain new and useful Improvements in Vulcanizing Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification. 7 I This invention relates to the vulcanizing' of articles of indiarubbe'r and allied gums, and has for its-object to: provide simple and convenient means for establishing communication betweena large number of hollow articles undergoing. treatment and a vacuum apparatus or exhaust.

In the preparation vof a hollow article for vulcanization it is desirable that the mass of material forming such article be homogeneous and compact, whether such article be composed of gum and a vulcanizing com-' pound or such associated with one-or more layers of fabric either incorporated within 'the mass or forming an inner surfacing or lining.v Prior to and in some instances, it is. desirable-toysubject the outer surfaceof the hollow article to a diiierent gas or to gas in a diflerent condition from that to whichthe interior-surface is subjected. For instanceyit maybe desirableto provide a pressure of the vul-- canizing-mediuni on-theouter surface in excess of that on the inner surface, or to employ one gas on theohter surface and .or to employ an aqueous gas on the outer surface and a dry or rarefied gas on the inner surface. When the articles undergoing treatment are mounted upon forms or patterns it'is desirablehto cause the material of which-the ar-' ticles are composed to closely adhere to such.

forms or molds, and if composed of gum and fabric to cause these to become compacted one with the other prior to the beouter ginning of the vuleanizing; and that during theheat treatment the adherence. to the the various component layers 'bemaintained. r f

The, present improvement is for 'aiford ing an apparatus orappliance whereby. the ollow; article may have its inner audits surfaces, subjected simultaneously to the influence of diflerent gases orvulcaniz ing media, and also, if desired, to differential pressures." This device is capable of Specification of Letters Patent.

during vulcanization,

V'ULCANIZING- APPARATUS.

employment in the manufacture or treatment of various hollow articles; as a concrete illustration a rubber boot has been selected from th multitude of available subjects.

In the drawings accompanying this specification one practicable embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Figure 1 is a vi'ewshowing two of the appliances, a boot mounted oneach and a supporting rack, one of the appliances being shown in end elevation, and the other in cross-section, the boot-mounted on the latter being broken away to reveal the form on which it is mounted, and such form also being broken away the better to show its manner of connection; and Fig. 2 isa plan view of one of the appliances and porting racks in cross-section. i In the illustration this appliance 4' is a hollow shell forming a vacuum chamber 5, and isin-the form of, an elongated bar.

its sup- The walls of the chamber are shown formed.

of sheet metal. One side, 6, is adapted for receiving the articles to be treated. A longitudinally disposed series of openings .7 through the chamber wall are shown inv this Such openings are for establishing a treatment and for the form on which the same ismounted should one be employed.

The contour of the surface will depend to an extent on that of the form and ofthe contiguous-portion oi the article being manufactured. The illustrated patte'rn or form is a metal last 9 having a flat end 10 for seating on the seatface -6, and a hole 11 for registering with the opening 7. The forms are pervious,.prefera ly by the metal walls being provided with perforations 12; By being pervious, ;communication is readily established between the interior of the hollow article and the vacuum chamber. To

assure a tight joint the materialof the ar- PatentedDec. 29,1914. Application filed April 17, 1913. Serial No. 761,747.

ticle is extended in a margin 13 for overlay- 3 ing the seat face 6. Thls margin or skirt may be an extension of the article itself or attached thereto. In the illustration the boot ends-at its top with a bead 14 from the edge of'which the skirt will be out after. vulcanization. In the illustration the skirt extends over a substantial portion'of the.

form surface to and beyond the juncture 01 the form base and vacuum chamber.

- the seat either by its own adhesiveness, by

cement,- or by the formation of. the seat. A

ings 7.. Upon the application of differential pressure, wherein the outer sideis subjected to a greater relative pressure than is the hollow interionfthe skirt will be drawn or forcedfin'to'such channel and therebymake a tight joint. This may be supplemented by cement, orQby adhesive material in the skirt.

.trated at 17.

The 1 articles undergoing treatm'ent -T;are

The 'vacuum chamber is provided With a. suitable connection for an. exhaust or vac-'= uum apparatus. Such a connectiorf is illus-- preferably positioned on their seats by some securing or retainin'g'devlce. .In the present illustration they are held in place by means of pins and, sockets on the forms' and vac-' uum'chamber walls Theend of each form is shown provided' with a pair of-ferruled openings 18 "for the reception of pins. 19.

These openings and pins foreachfarti'clefor v forni a're'located Within the seat area, and; are shownf'lbcated within the inclosure-(fof the sealing. channel 16. It has bfBGIlfOUIldidesirable to"'construct the vacuum chamber;

Walls of thin metal. When heavy artil's.

crease the thickness and the lugs twisted into a plane at an angle of about sixty de- -.grees to the plane of the wall 6. When the lugs are in the recesses or sockets 22 the seat faces or the wall 6 will be in a horizontal, plane. This permits close packing of the goods on the car in orderv to; economize space sealing channel 16 is shown formed in the"; I 'face of the seal and surrounding the-open- I Wention is' shown and but one employment specifically described, it will be. apparent in the vulcanizer.

Although' butone embodiment of the in- I claim'as' myinvention 1. Theico bination with a vacuum-chamher provided withia n ,openingwthrough one of its walls, and a plane surface on the outer sidejof suchwall forming a seat. for a form and an article under. treatment, anda ends of the bar 20 are upset slightly to in .sealinv channel in such" seat surface sur-.

rounding the said opening, of means for positioning a formonthe said seat.

2. A vulcanizing device, comprising vacuum chamber, a series of openingsthrough the wallsi lthereof, and. a. sealing channel surrounding. each such opening.

3'. A- vulcani'zi'n'g apparatus comprising a ,each ofsu'chfaces' constituting a form seat,

suchside having an; opening. through it at.

such as. heavy boots, are being treated.ia-rid i eech of such formseats, and supporting rack these mounted on metal, lasts :rather 'toos much weight is present to be supported the thin-chamber' walls'. A supporting bar 20 is therefore "provided, This is show-ii;- flat and'mounted on the inner side ofcthelg flat top wall 6, adjacent 'tothelongitudinal series ofopening s 71 The pins 19 are-shown passing throughthdwall 6 and tapped into the bar20. The shoulders at the inner ends of the screw-threaded ends clamp the wall 6 to the bar The articles. are placed on their forms, whensforms are employed, and

seated in proper position ,on. thevaf'cuu'm chamber .bar, this being first done in the work-room; and. the barg with others,

placed in; y usual vulcaaii z-en 'Raghsj are providedrrfor engaging the endsf' gfi the-bars end: supporting them; Thfi fflflltsfmhy be securedin the chamber of thm leaarae In practice I. have placed their! dn carriers I cars-such. as are in gem" eral use-in rubber, ja'ctories- {Each bfitlhe racks'is hgwa pipvid dtwitn a :E-ilasfofsockets" 2% The, sockets are .fshoviins'aaii nar- 10a --vacuum chamber embodying a. bar-like sides with a plurality of substantially; flat 1 sealing faces, efachof such faces constituting' a;, form seat, such side having .anopening through it 'at eachfof such form seats, of means associated with each-such, sealing faces forholding'a' hollow article in regis gaging means carriedby the opening, of a series of hollowmetala forms to "interchangeably ,lie within theas'aid sealing ehann'el's,,{ and mat ng 1 pins and sockets try with the opening therethrough and sup- Y porting rack en saidbar-like structure. s 5.. In a vulcanizi'ng apparatus, the. combi a nation witha'vacuum chamber embodying a bar like structure having a fiat side, a se' .ries of'openings throughsuch flat side, and a. sealing channel surrounding each :such

-' each having aflat end provided .witliian open ing, the v said ffl'at end bein ofasize'and shape 7 ries of flat seats for openings through such flat side, and a sealing channel surrounding each such opening, of a fiat supporting bar mounted on such flat side adjacent the having its ends extending beyond the ends of the vacuum chamber and bent by the said ings of said series.-

7 In a vulcanizing apparatus, the com-c hination with a sheet metal vacuum chamber having a series ofopenin s,'of a supportin side 0 said chambcr an bar carried by one having support-engaging portions, and a series of form supports mounted "on the said supporting bar,

8. In a vulcanizing apparatus..the'combination with a vacuum chamber having a sesaid chamber, the fiat faces of the lugs being disposed at an angle of about sixty degrees to the plane of said seats, a, vulcanizone of such "walls beingflat, a loi'igitudinally disposed series of" series of openings andin' a plane' at an angle to the plane of such flat side, and fastening devices carried supporting bar adjacent the respective open-' 7 articles under treatment, of broad flat supporting lugs'carrying the ing chamber, and racks in the saidvulcanizing chamber having recesses for the said lugs disposed at an angle of about thirty degrees'to the vertical, whereby the said seats are maintamed 1n a horizontal plane 9. A rack for a vulcamzer comprising a,

7 carried by the bar and provided with a series of form seats, the form seats being re- 'spectively located adjacent the form-engag- "ing means, the wall of such chamber havinga-n'opening forv each form seat.

a 10. In a vulcanizing apparatus, the combination with asvacuum chamber haying a v plurality of openings, of a plurality of forms respectively, having openings for mating with the chamber openings, and interconnecting means adapted for ready connection and disconnection between the vacuum chamber and the forms, and'adapted' when connected for maintaining such.

openings-in register, the wall of the vacuum chamber having substantially fiat seal-en-' gaging surfaces surrounding the forms.

supporting bar carrying a series of formengaging means, and a vacuum chamber In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the scribing witnesses.

. JOHN T. onowLEYfi Witnesses:

J. U. FERRIs, V. T. ANDERSON.

Copies of thla patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washingtoml). 0."

presence of two sub- 

